Finding love in the reel world

Parents gather at People's Park in downtown Shanghai to exchange matchmaking information for their single children. GAO ERQIANG/CHINA DAILY

Dating options aplenty

There is no lack of means for young Chinese to meet their potential partners today. The Alibaba-backed dating app Momo, which is regarded as the Chinese equivalent of Tinder, claims that it has 60 million active registered members, 20 million more than Tinder.

The application allows users to make new friends based on proximity or a shared hobby and communicate via instant messages. While Momo made the headlines a few years ago for its reputation as the go-to app for one-night-stands, it is today still considered one of the best online platforms for those seeking serious relationships.

Jiayuan.com, a dating website that was created before smartphones became prevalent, currently boasts a membership of over 170 million members. Founded by a countryside girl who said she felt humiliated after traditional matchmaking agencies deemed her to be not good looking enough, the website markets itself as a serious place "to find beautiful serendipity".

There are even special corners of the city where parents can matchmake their single children. In Shanghai, the famous marriage market at People's Park sees an average of about 1 million people every year pedaling their children's futures. The weekly fair, which was first set up in 2005, has grown to such a scale and reputation that it is now a popular tourist destination. In light of declining marriage rates, similar fairs have also sprouted in other Chinese cities.